This wine’s composition is inconsistently reported as being either 76% Merlot, 10% Petite Verdot, and 14% Cabernet Sauvignon, or according to James Suckling, 76% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petite Verdot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Mouverdre. It is doubtful that an unequivocal percentage breakdown will be discerned by this humble taster, who possesses a clear and present bias for the many incantations of red wines produced by many of the Alexander Valley producers. The opaque black cherry extends to the rim. The nose, decidedly heady with aromas of blue and black fruit, along with a sweet and heated hint of the 14.3% ABV. There is little in the way of bouquet at this time, but there are complimentary faint wisps of vanilla and plum. Sans food, the sweet and seductively viscous mouthfeel delivers seriously extracted blueberry and blackberry flavors that swim in currents of appropriately supportive tannins and acidity. The veracity of the deeply rich flavors extends through the palate and far into the long finish. The well made wine’s cast of varietal characters are synergisticly balanced and complementary. They blend seamlessly into, at this time in its development, a very intriguing, yet somewhat simplistic, presentation of a voluptuous, all together delicious and too easy to drink red blend. As an orthopedic surgeon I used to scrub in with used to say after each procedure, while he was breaking scrub and I was closing, “What’s not to like.”
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Dark ruby in color, this wine (42% Merlot/24% Zinfandel/14% Grenache/8% Cabernet Sauvignon/6% Grenache/6% Syrah) shows black cherry, spice, vanilla and red currant on the nose. The mouth feel has moderate but approachable tannins along with undertones of earth and bramble. The finish is medium in length with pleasant integration of the fruit, spices, earth and acidity. 14.3% abv.
Purchased for $18US, this is a very enjoyable red blend that was the perfect 3rd bottle (and final) tonight for the 5 of us with our steak dinners on Labor Day weekend with family. At this price point, its an outstanding qpr also.
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10/4/2023 - Josch48 Likes this wine: 90 Points
This wine’s composition is inconsistently reported as being either 76% Merlot, 10% Petite Verdot, and 14% Cabernet Sauvignon, or according to James Suckling, 76% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petite Verdot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Mouverdre. It is doubtful that an unequivocal percentage breakdown will be discerned by this humble taster, who possesses a clear and present bias for the many incantations of red wines produced by many of the Alexander Valley producers.
The opaque black cherry extends to the rim.
The nose, decidedly heady with aromas of blue and black fruit, along with a sweet and heated hint of the 14.3% ABV.
There is little in the way of bouquet at this time, but there are complimentary faint wisps of vanilla and plum.
Sans food, the sweet and seductively viscous mouthfeel delivers seriously extracted blueberry and blackberry flavors that swim in currents of appropriately supportive tannins and acidity. The veracity of the deeply rich flavors extends through the palate and far into the long finish. The well made wine’s cast of varietal characters are synergisticly balanced and complementary. They blend seamlessly into, at this time in its development, a very intriguing, yet somewhat simplistic, presentation of a voluptuous, all together delicious and too easy to drink red blend. As an orthopedic surgeon I used to scrub in with used to say after each procedure, while he was breaking scrub and I was closing, “What’s not to like.”
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7/4/2020 - Case Syrah Does not like this wine: 80 Points
Wasn’t balanced. Loved the Hilary Cabernet and expecting more from this blend
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9/1/2019 - cuffthis Likes this wine: 90 Points
Dark ruby in color, this wine (42% Merlot/24% Zinfandel/14% Grenache/8% Cabernet Sauvignon/6% Grenache/6% Syrah) shows black cherry, spice, vanilla and red currant on the nose. The mouth feel has moderate but approachable tannins along with undertones of earth and bramble. The finish is medium in length with pleasant integration of the fruit, spices, earth and acidity. 14.3% abv.
Purchased for $18US, this is a very enjoyable red blend that was the perfect 3rd bottle (and final) tonight for the 5 of us with our steak dinners on Labor Day weekend with family. At this price point, its an outstanding qpr also.
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